Ezio Edmund Balducci, 93

REHOBOTH BEACH - Ezio Edmund Balducci died Monday, July 2, 2007, surrounded by his family as he peacefully went to be with the Lord in Beebe Hospital after suffering a major heart attack. He was 93.

Ezio, known to all as Ed, was born in New York City.

After losing his father at age 2, he and his mother lived with family in Pesaro, Italy.

He returned to New York at age 6, where his mother opened a deli store.

Ed attended Emerson High School in Union City, N.J., Stuyvesant Business College in Jersey City, N.J., Traffic Managers Institute in New York and Rock Island School of Transportation in Rock Island, Ill.

He also attended the College of Advanced Traffic, where he obtained a traffic law degree.

Ed was an Olympic gymnastic hopeful as he was named the Ti-State champion of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, specializing in rings at Madison Square Garden.

Ed was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations for outstanding performance in traffic management.

He was fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and German. He traveled in many states and even lived in Peru, South America.

Ed loved music and played the mandolin in several bands right up to the week he died. He originated a band called Three Hits and a Miss, and played with the Bill Earl Band, The Riviera Rascals, The Bonita Village Band and the Back Bay Strummers.

Ed could not read a note of music but could play any piece by ear as he had perfect pitch. He was even asked to perform for the president of the United States at the White House.

Ed enjoyed teaching line dancing at Rehoboth Beach, and also at Naples, Fla. He often bragged about having his "harem" of ladies that danced with him.

Ed had an amazing sense of humor and was well known as a prankster and joke teller. His wit will always be remembered.

He was a man of many talents, as he was a distinguished painter and painted many of the signs around Rehoboth Beach, including the Jolly Trolley and a race car.

He also was a floor polisher.

Ed belonged to the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, American Association of Retired Persons, National Association of Retired Persons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

This devoted husband and wonderfully loving and supportive father would have celebrated 68 years of marriage to Marion C. Moeckel this year.

He is survived by his one and only wife, Marion, who was the first customer of his store; his six children, Arlene and Ed Stanis of Chincoteague, Va., Diane and Ted Lane of Fairfax, Va., Robert and Deborah Balducci of Montclair, Va., Janice and Tom Wheeler of Fairfax, Va., Glen and Carol Lee Balducci of St. Augustine, Fla., and Ed and Brenda Balducci of Pleasanton, Calif.; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

There will be a Memorial Mass at 11 a.m., Thursday in St. Edmond"s Catholic Church, King Charles and Laurel streets, Rehoboth Beach.

Interment will be private.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19901.

Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.